Bed-bottom.



E. ROSES; l. ISBILL.

BED BOTTOM.

[Application` filed Dec. 2B, 1901.) NU-Mudd.)

Patented Sept. 3 0, |9027.

v(lauren STATES AfrnNr Frrcn.

EDVARD ROSE AND ISAAC ISBILL, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

BED-BOTTOM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 710,304, dated September 30, 1902. Application led December 26,1901. Serial No. 87,398. (No model.`J

To all tlf/2,0m, it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD ROSE and ISAAC ISBILL, citizens of the United States, residing at Chattanooga, in the county of Hamilton and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bed- Bottoms, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to bed-bottoms, particularly to that class of bed-bottoms in which a fabric of some sort, usually of woven wire, is employed as the support for the mattress.

The invention has for its object to provide improved means foi` connecting the bed-bottom to and supporting it in the bedstead or frame and to provide improved means for tightening or putting under proper tension the fabric of the bed-bottom.

In the accompanying drawings we have shown our invention embodied in a bed-bottom; but it is apparent that the invention may be applied to cots, lounges, and similar articles.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bed-bottom embodying our invention,-represented as being stretched between and supported by the head and foot rails of a bedstead. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view illustrating the means for tightening the bed-bottom. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view illustrating a different form of connecting-hook from that shown in other views. Fig. 5 is a detached side view of the pawl or locking-dog 22.

In the drawings, 2 and 3 .represent the head and foot rails, respectively, of a bedstead. Those shown are represented as being of angular shape, a form commonly used in metallic bedsteads.

4 designates the fabric of the bed-bottom, consisting of woven wire. The ends of the fabric are bound by metallic strips 5 and (i. The strip 6, which is represented as being at the end of the fabric which is to be attached to the foot-rail, is provided with a series of perforations 7. A series of hooks 8 are adapted to engage with these perforations and conneet the fabric with the foot-rail 3. Each hook 8 is preferably provided with a portion fl, arranged to partially encircle the foot-rail and by its engaging therewith to hold the 'tures in the end strip 6 of thefabric.

hooks rigidly against turning upon the rail, While being at the same time free to slide longitudinally thereof. The hook has also a substantially horizontal inwardly-extending top portion 10, which is provided at its inner end with the spur or hook proper, 11, which is adapted to pass through one of the apertures 7 in the end strip of the fabric. It will be seen that the connecting-hooks may be quickly applied to the rail of the bedstead and adjusted thereupon'relative to each other to be in position to engage with the several aper- By connecting the hooks with the fabric, as shown, the horizontal portions l0 thereof are adapted to hold the end of the mattress-supporting fabric level with or even above the top of the rail 3 and to support it in a horizontal plane. The hooks S may be provided with set-screws 12, as represented in Fig. 4, should itbe found desirable to clamp the hooks to the end rail.

The strip 5 at the other end of the fabric is .provided with a series of iiexible straps 13 or their equivalents. These straps may be of leather or metal or may be formed of chains or cords, as found most suitable. The outer ends of the straps 13 are secured to a tightening-roller 14C. This roller is mounted in bearings 15, connected with the rail 2 at the head end of the bed, preferably by hooks 16, formed integral with the bearings and constructed to fit upon the end rail in a manner similar to that employed for connecting the hooks 8 with the bed-rail, as already described. This manner of mounting the roller permits of its ready attachment to and separation from the bed-rail and also permits the bearings being adjusted longitudinally of the roller. As represented in Fig. 1, the end of the roller 14 is made angular, as at 17, and is thus adapted to receive a wrench or handle, by which the roller may be turned in its bearings in order to wind the straps 13 thereupon, and thus tighten the fabric. In lieu of this arrangement the roller may be provided with a ratchet-lever 18, as represented in Fig. 3, the roller carrying a ratchet-Wheel 19, with which the spring-pawl 20 of the lever engages. The lever may be arranged at the center of the roller or near one end or the other, as may be found rnost convenient, and the advantage incident to a construction of this ICO kind is that the lever 18 is always in place and ready for instant use. The roller is provided with one or more ratchet-Wheels 21, with each of which there engages a lockingdog 22. The dog 22 is preferably provided with a hook-like portion 23, adapted to engage with the bed-rail 2. The locking-dog may be elastic, so as to permit the end that engages with the ratchetwheel to yield as the teeth of the wheel move past the dog, or the dog may be rigid and be brought into locking engagement with the ratchet-Wheel by sliding it longitudinally on the bed-rail.

The bed-bottom as it comes from the factory Will have attached to it the bindingstrips 5 and 6, and to one of these will'be permanently attached the straps 13 or their equivalents. These straps may be at this time secured to the roller 14, or the attachment of the straps thereto may be deferred until it is desired to mount the bed-bottom. The bearings 15 for the roller will be strung upon the roller between the ratchet-wheels 21, Whether the roller be attached to the fabric by the straps 13 or not. The hooks 8, which unite the end of the fabric opposite the roller to the bedstead, and the pawls 22, which engage with the ratchet-wheels 21, will be loose, the requisite number being supplied with each bed-bottom.

In setting up the bed-bottom the hooks 8 are rst placed upon the bed-rail,and the strip 6 at the end of the bed-bottom fabric will be arranged with the hooks, being thereby held in a suspended horizontal position. rlhe roller 111 will then be mounted by causing the hooks 16 of its bearings 15 to engage with the rail 2 of the bedstead. the straps are unwound from the roller when it is mounted, so that the bed-bottom fabric Will be loose between the head and foot rails. These connections being properly made theroller is turned, either by a handle applied to the squared end 17 of the roller or by the operation of the ratchet-handle 18, until the proper tension is given to the fabric, when the pawls will be made to engage with the ratchet-Wheels 21, locking the roller and maintaining the fabric under proper tension.

It will be seen that a bed-bottom such as We have described may be easily applied to and removed from the bedstead and that the tension of the fabric may be easily regulated.

Having described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

It Will be evident thatv 1. The combination with a bedstead having supporting-rails, of a bed-bottom supported in the bedstead, a roller for tightening the bed-bottom, connections between the roller and the bed-bottom and bearings in which the roller is mounted, the bearings being supported upon and laterally adjustable along one of the bedstead-rails, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a bedstead having a supporting-rail, of a bed-bottom mounted in the bedstead, a roller for adjusting the tensionlfor the bed-bottom,connecting means between the roller and the bed-bottom and bearings in which the roller is mounted, provided With hooks adapted to engage with the bedstead-rail, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a bedstead having a supporting-rail, of a bed-bottom mounted in the bedstead, a roller for adjusting the tension of the bed-bottom, bearings in which the roller is mounted, ratchet-Wheels carried by the roller and pawls for engaging with the ratchet-Wheels, supported by and laterally adjustable along the end rail of the bedstead, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a bedstead having asupporting-rail, of a bed-bottom mounted in the bedstead, a roller for adjusting the tension of the bed-bottom, a ratchet-Wheel carried by the roller, and a pawl for engaging with the ratchet-Wheel, provided with a hook adapted to engage with and partly encircle the bedstead-rail by which it is supported, substantially as set forth.

5. A bed-bottom comprising a fabric provided at its opposite ends with binding-strips, one of the strips being perforated and the other provided .with a series of straps, detachable hooks for engaging with the perforated strip and uniting the fabric with a bedstead, a tension-adjusting roller to which the straps are secured, a ratchet-wheel on the said roller,

bearings for the said roller arranged to detachably engage'with and be supported by a rail of the bedstead, and a paWl for the said ratchetwheel arranged to detachably engage With and be supported by a rail of the bedstead, substantially as set forth.

ED WARD ROSE. SAAC ISBILL.

Witnesses to Edward Rose:

E. H. Ross, JAs. W. HI'rcH. Witnesses to Isaac Isbill:

L. L. MARTIN, FRANCIS MARTIN.

IOO 

